Skip to main content

Bactrim and Loss Of Appetite: What Users Say

Loss of appetite: mentioned by 42 users (6.8%)

Based on user experiences from 616 Bactrim reviews, the following table shows the most commonly mentioned side effects.

All user comments are moderated by Drugs.com. Each review is verified for relevance and screened for inappropriate content. Side effects are user-reported and not clinically verified.

nausea 19.6%
headaches 16.9%
anxiety 11.2%
rash 10.6%
fever 8.1%
dizziness 7.5%
loss of appetite 6.8%
itching 6.7%
chills 6.3%
allergic reaction 5.5%

Reviews for Bactrim

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Sad...
  • April 21, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "Let me tell you, I was so nervous to start Bactrim after reading these reviews. I thought for sure I was going to have terrible side effects. Turns out, I’m completely fine. The most I’ve had is some nausea/lack of appetite but I get that with almost all antibiotics. Make sure you eat a meal ahead of taking each pill and drink lots of water. As long as you’re not allergic to sulfa drugs, I can almost guarantee that you’re going to be ok :). Remember, temporary side effects are better than a kidney infection!!"

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
170 Report
  • Jul...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 26, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "After a week of experiencing painful and uncomfortably annoying UTI symptoms, I went to the doctor and was prescribed Bactrim for 7 days. I have no insurance, but I was able to get 14 pills for $7.00 with a coupon. 30 minutes after taking the first pill, the feeling of urgency left. When I went to the restroom, there was almost no pain. I am on my third day, and I am feeling close to normal. The urgency is gone, and the pain while urinating is gone. The only side effects I can say I am experiencing are a slight loss in appetite and a little neck pain and joint pain in my hands. But on a scale of 1 to 10, I would say that those symptoms are at a 3. I see that many of the reviews on this medicine are scary. But just know that everyone's body is different, even to the point of pain tolerance. So what might be okay for one person might not be so for another. Either way, the benefit of being relieved of my UTI symptoms far outweighs the other risks of side effects."

8 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
103 Report
  • Liz...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 12, 2017

For Bacterial Skin Infection "I broke out in blisters on face, scalp, and chest. These were oozing a clear, sticky fluid that literally melted the skin it oozed over. Tried everything over the counter and homeopathic, but this flesh-eating infection would not clear. Finally went to urgent care and was prescribed Bactrim for an assumed MRSA skin infection. Within the first 24 hours, I had noticeable improvement. Sores weren't burning red and swollen, by the 3rd day some scabs are already falling off with healthy pink skin underneath, no ooze, no new blisters. Day 5 you would hardly know I had a skin problem. All clear. Only side effect I had was loss of appetite. Didn't want to eat, nothing sounded good. Lost 4 pounds. Not everyone reacts badly to Bactrim."

8 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
120 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Kd0...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 27, 2020

For Bacterial Infection "I took Bactrim for 4 days. On the 4th day, I started having leg pain. The day after I quit the meds, I had all-over body aches, a low-grade temp off and on, and just a feeling of being sick. The next day, my aches went away but held on to the low-grade temp, headache, and weakness for two more days. During the course of the medication, I also had a pounding heart and no appetite. It did clear the infection though. I think I had a bad reaction and only wanted to report these so that others might know if they have the same thing happening to them. It took about 5 days from my last pill that I feel better."

2 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
77 Report
  • ira...
  • June 3, 2016

For Bacterial Skin Infection "Day 3 on BACTRIM due to MRSA. Abscess was lanced and drained 5 days ago. Swelling/pain of the abscess has finally begun remission. I did suffer from the reported migraine headache all day yesterday, and it was quite debilitating, but no such headache today, and I'm finally back at work. Also suffered from some seriously painful abdominal cramps that produced very loose/watery stool. Not much of an appetite today and feeling a little shaky, so make sure you eat even if you don't want to. This drug is definitely very effective for the treatment of MRSA. If the migraines were constant as others described, I wouldn't not be back at work today. All my best wishes to everyone reading this."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
117 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

Your review helps others make informed decisions.
Write a review
  • Ril...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 13, 2021

For Bacterial Infection "I had a breast infection and was prescribed this terrible medicine. It needs to be off the market. I felt real bad the second day taking it. It caused a fever, rash, headache, sharp pains throughout my body, no appetite, shakiness, dizziness, and numbness. I felt so out of it, it scared me so bad I stopped taking it. The Bactrim medicine is too strong. I definitely wouldn’t recommend!"

2 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
30 Report
  • goo...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 4, 2023

For Kidney Infections "I was prescribed Bactrim after 2 other antibiotics that did not knock out the infection. Honestly, after reading so many bad reviews, I was reluctant to take Bactrim. However, my infection was one step from putting me in the hospital. Fast forward, I've been on it for almost 13 days. I felt immediately better after the second day. The infection is gone. I had no side effects at all. Nothing. It did suppress my appetite a tiny little bit... which I'm not complaining about! Lol. But it worked well for me. Don't forget to drink a lot of water."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
13 Report

More FAQ

  • Sar...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 30, 2015

For Kidney Infections "Really effective, but really terrible side effects. UTI and kidney infection both cleared up quickly, which I'm grateful for, and ultimately that's the point. But I had nausea and vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, joint aches, itchy skin, sore throat, loss of appetite... I felt way better with the infection than I did on the medication. But it's all temporary."

7 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
41 Report
  • Wat...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • April 22, 2020

For Bacterial Skin Infection "Was prescribed Bactrim for a 'possible' infection in my leg from varicose veins. 2 pills a day for 10 days. Worst medication. Felt fine with the first pill, after the second pill, I started to have bladder issues. Was peeing constantly, bladder felt heavy. Felt like I had to go after I just went. Was checked for a UTI, don't have one. Only took 2 pills and stopped. It has also caused headaches, my abdominal muscles feel weaker, loss of appetite. I must have been allergic or something. Won't ever take this again."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
26 Report
  • JDK...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 7, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "Okay, here is my story..... I'm 3 days in, and after the first dose, I felt amazing. The next day, even better. Today, not so good, I have had sweats at least thrice and stomach pains with burping constantly. My tongue is actually peeling. I have had no appetite throughout the course of 3 days thus far!!! I'm stopping it in fear of something even worse happening!! I cannot take my daily runs on this medication. Anxiety is high, and my mouth hurts!!! I had sepsis 21 months ago, which started with a UTI, and several antibiotics do not agree with me!!! I will update as time goes on. Right now, I want my mouth to stop hurting!!! I would be very cautious if you are prescribed this medication!!"

2 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
18 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 13, 2014

For Urinary Tract Infection "It's currently 12:30 am, and I'm wide awake on a school night typing this. I didn't exactly have all the symptoms of a urinary tract infection, but I always have the urgency to pee. I went to urgent care, and the doctor prescribed me Bactrim. I've been on it for 3 days (today will be my 4th), and I have yet to see results. According to some of you, it doesn't start working until the 5th day, which still gives me hope since the doctor told me it would work within 2 days. What I have been seeing is nausea, diarrhea, shakiness, insomnia, extreme headaches, and loss of appetite. I really hope this works. The constant urge to pee pretty much ruins what little social life I have. Having to make constant trips to the bathroom doesn't fit well with football games."

3 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
46 Report
  • Anonymous
  • February 17, 2012

For Bacterial Skin Infection "I stepped on a rusty nail and had a lot of pain, and my foot started to swell. I started taking Bactrim, and the pain went away within the first two pills, which was 24 hours. The only problem is that I can't function with the nausea, dizziness, loss of appetite, and headache. I think it's because of a sensitive stomach."

5 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
38 Report
  • Anonymous
  • June 8, 2016

For Urinary Tract Infection "My experience was horrible! Prescribed 2 pills a day for 3 days. After the last pill, I started feeling strange and had severe headaches from the time I started taking it until a week later. I didn't think much of it until I went home from work and didn't leave the couch. I had no appetite, constipated, sweating and chills. I wanted to puke, my eyes hurt so bad. Couldn't shake whatever was going on and drank as much water as possible. My body was sore, I slept almost an entire weekend away. I can't tell if my UTI is completely gone or not because I'm still constipated and it hurts! I've never had an antibiotic like this, and I never want it again! All my doc told me was to keep pushing fluids and eat yogurt. Good luck, people."

3 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
28 Report
  • smj...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • August 3, 2020

For Kidney Infections "I was diagnosed with a kidney infection and prescribed Bactrim twice a day for 5 days. I took my first pill in the evening, slept for twelve hours, and took another one in the morning. I thought my body just needed the rest, but shortly after the second pill, I slept most of the day. By the end of my experience, I've had: fatigue, stomach pains, severe constipation, nausea, insomnia, and loss of appetite. My kidneys seemed to have improved, but I couldn't even bring myself to take the final pill."

3 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
17 Report
  • Pic...
  • August 8, 2011

For Bacterial Skin Infection "I have been prescribed Bactrim for a skin infection in the form of 2 boils, 1 on my arm and 1 on my leg. I have been prescribed Bactrim 800/160 2x per day for 10 days. I started feeling horrible after the first dose. Extreme dizziness, stomach issues, headache by day 3, feeling dehydrated with weakness and joint pain and jaw pain, loss of appetite, insomnia. I am on day 5 and the dizziness is really bad, I had to miss work. I only took half a dose this morning and am considering stopping. Thinking I may be allergic to the sulfonamide as my grandmother is allergic, and this is the first time I have ever taken this. Glad to see others have had a good experience."

4 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
35 Report
  • jjj...
  • December 30, 2014

For Acne "Bactrim worked miracles when I first started taking it. I was on it for almost 5 years, but it began to lose its potency, so I had to change. Overall, it helped a lot in clearing my acne. I did experience less of an appetite, but other than that, it was a positive experience."

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
24 Report
  • Anonymous
  • July 9, 2011

For Bacterial Skin Infection "I am taking Bactrim for a minor staph infection on my leg. It is going away quickly. I am just experiencing fatigue and headaches. The headaches are probably due to dehydration because I am a runner too. I felt better after I drank more water with the medicine. Also, I am experiencing a slight decrease in appetite."

6 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
26 Report
  • Cat...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 11, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "Prescribed Bactrim at the clinic for suspected UTI. 3 pills later - swallowing and throat issues which lasted a couple of months, digestion problems, loss of appetite and weight, horrible anxiety for 4 months, just lessening now at 5 months. Horrible med for me. Never again. Makes me never want to take another med."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
14 Report
  • Dan...
  • September 15, 2019

For Bacterial Skin Infection "I had an ingrown toenail, so my podiatrist removed it and put me on cephalexin for a week. After taking all of them, my toe was still infected. She put me on Bactrim to be taken twice a day for 10 days. Twenty-four hours after my first dose, my mood completely changed. I was depressed and miserable. Day 2, I was spinning, it was impossible to function for daily tasks, and I had no appetite. Day 3, I had a full-blown panic attack, then extreme anxiety, and following that, several heart palpitations. Day 6, I had a rash across my midsection. I stopped taking them that day and called my podiatrist, as my toe still wasn't getting better. She advised I stop and see her later on that day. She wound up removing another piece of nail that had been left behind. When I told her all of the symptoms, she said that I'm allergic. As a person who suffers from food allergies, this terrified me. After a week, the nausea, headache, and spinning started to lighten up, but it took around two months to get back to my normal routine. And to think... these symptoms are NORMAL for this medication."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
13 Report
  • Hal...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 14, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was prescribed this medication for a UTI. After 1 pill, I woke up feeling nauseous, nonstop vomiting, bloating, diarrhea, headaches, insomnia, dizziness, weakness, loss of appetite, fever, chills. I am currently on day 3 and will not be taking this anymore. I have zero improvements, which is to be expected after only 3 days. I was told to take 2 pills daily for 10 days. I can’t take the extreme side effects, and I don’t see why a doctor would prescribe this, with this many horrible side effects. I thought I had a stomach bug or food poisoning until I decided to look up the side effects and realized it’s the medicine. My kind was 800/160MG TB. I don’t recommend."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
9 Report
  • She...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 20, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was prescribed Bactrim 800/160 mg for 5 days, 2 times a day. Day 1, no problem, just lost appetite. Day 2, no appetite, kidney pain, hands got shaky, and was very anxious. I considered stopping the prescription. Day 3 (5th pill), within an hour of taking it, my heart rate got up to 176, and I was gasping for air. I called 911 because it's just myself and my 2 young children here. Paramedics ruled it as a panic attack. Never had this problem, so I know it's from the medication. Absolutely will never take this again. I'm currently still on day 5, so if anything else crazy happens, I'll update. I wish these didn't continue releasing medication for 12 hours... The anxious feelings are still coming in waves. Trying to drink a lot of water to flush this poison out of my system. Currently having no more UTI symptoms, so I think it cleared the infection. Giving it a 3 because it did what it was supposed to, quickly, but definitely NOT worth the side effects."

3 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
8 Report
  • jai...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 19, 2022

For Urinary Tract Infection "I have 1 more day left of this medicine. I was told to take 10 days. No way can handle it. I've been getting sweating, bad stomach pain, stomach upsets, dizziness, little appetite. To make it worse, I don't think it's working!"

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
6 Report
  • One...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 15, 2017

For Urinary Tract Infection "It worked the first time I had a UTI. No change in symptoms the second time I was prescribed this medication since it is a weaker antibiotic for UTIs. Didn't really have any negative side effects besides not wanting to eat, but I think that was just the demon from hell UTI."

6 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
11 Report
  • Tir...
  • August 16, 2019

For Bacterial Skin Infection "Took Bactrim 4 days for skin infection, then quit due to not sleeping or being able to eat. I drank plenty of water but ended up feeling like my head was going to explode, joints aching, vision blurry, felt like I was being poisoned. The doctor said to continue taking, just make sure you eat. I let them know I was not able to eat, so I quit on my own, nobody's going to know what is going on with their body better than themselves, and it was just poisoning me. Three days after stopping Bactrim, I have a rash all over my body, and a week later still feel like my head is going to explode, very tired and vision blurry. Doctors put on my file to never take again as I am allergic to it."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
13 Report
  • Lou...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 27, 2022

For Urinary Tract Infection "I've been taking Bactrim since Friday, it's now Sunday. My doctor told me it's a urinary tract infection, but the only symptoms I'm having are the urge to pee with little urine. Vaginal itching that comes and goes with discharge. I'm ready to stop the medicine, but I know I can't. I've missed two doses because the side effects are me feeling dizzy, feeling nauseous, a bad headache, and loss of appetite. I don't know what to do. I feel like if I stop taking it for a possible UTI, it won't go away. But I don't feel it's a UTI 'cause I'm not having burning when I pee, only after I pee, I have an itchy feeling that I want to scratch with tissue, but I know I can't do that either. I really need help, and I hope someone sees this who can give me honest answers. I've been to the health unit and two hospitals, they've all given different results."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
6 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

Your review helps others make informed decisions.
Write a review
Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.